The Pella High School student body for the 2009-2010 school year is the largest it’s ever been. That’s according to Pella High School Principal Mark Lee, who reported at Monday’s school board meeting that 695 students were enrolled this fall. Also during the meeting, the board approved the purchase of maintenance equipment for sweeping the surface of the synthetic football field in the amount of $3,490 and approved five students to go to Washington, D.C., for a journalism convention.

Staff from the Family and Consumer Science department also reported that with the Board’s support for additional staff and new educational space, enrollment in those courses – particularly cooking – was able to be offered to many more students.

Superintendent Mark Wittmer also briefly discussed the 10% across-the-board cut in state spending, which will mean over $994,000 less for the district, and will mean expectations for the district to use it’s cash reserves to make up the difference.